Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur Mayor Jose Nelson Sala Sr. has said the municipal government will cooperate in the investigation into the fake birth certificates allegedly issued by its Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO).

In a statement, Sala said the municipal government has already opened a fact-finding investigation and initial actions have been undertaken against the alleged personnel involved.

The local chief executive issued a statement following the arrest of a 21-year-old Chinese national who used a falsified birth certificate when he applied for a Philippine passport in Davao City. The birth certificate was allegedly issued by the LCRO of Sta. Cruz.

The National Bureau of Investigation-Davao (NBI-11) also discovered that around 200 falsified birth certificates were also issued by the same office to Chinese nationals from 2018 to 2019, including those arrested and allegedly involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in Manila and other regions.

Sala said his administration does not tolerate this kind of illegal transaction.

“We welcome the investigation made by the NBI and other related national government agencies as this will also help our own investigation in curbing the proliferation of spurious birth certificates in our municipality,” Sala said.

The local chief executive added that those who will be found involved in the illegal transactions will face administrative sanctions.

“Rest assured that our LGU is doing its best to ensure that the rule of law will prevail and that its workforce is observing appropriate regulations and standards in the performance of their functions,” Sala added.